Cornwall

Cornwall's population increased by about 33,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed half a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of Cornwall increased by 6.6%, from about 499,000 to 532,000.

The addition of about 33,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Cornwall was home to, on average, 1.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Cornwall

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Cornwall increased by two years, from 43 to 45 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 21,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 8,000.

About 15.0% of people in Cornwall are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Cornwall by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Cornwall residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10.3% to 6.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78.8%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65.8% in 2001. The percentage of Cornwall residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.9% to 14.9%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South West. As a result, this area had the region’s third highest proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Cornwall decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Cornwall, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Cornwall

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Cornwall was among those who said they had no religion, rising 15.0 points.

In 2011, 33.1% of respondents in Cornwall gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 18.1% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Cornwall, 65.4% said they were Christian, compared with 80.8% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 8.7% to 9.3%.

In Cornwall, 8.5% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.0% in 2001. In South West, 7.9% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Cornwall increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and Cornwall by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Cornwall residents that were unemployed remained close to 3.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in two (47.1%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 45.6% in 2001. The percentage of Cornwall residents that were self-employed increased from 12.2% to 13.6%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Cornwall

The percentage of Cornwall residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.9% to 4.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.3%, while the percentage of Cornwall residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 88.9% to 88.1%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Cornwall working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13.9% to 10.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13.3% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Cornwall decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Cornwall, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Cornwall, but at a slower rate than across the South West.

In Cornwall, the proportion of private renting increased from 13.4% in 2001 to 16.8% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 11.1% to 17.0%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11.1% to 17.0%.

The rate of social housing in Cornwall remained close to 12.0%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71.9% to 68.8%.

Private renting in Cornwall increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Cornwall, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Cornwall, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.9% to 10.1% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 30.0%, while the percentage of households in Cornwall which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 36.8% to 33.9%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 10.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Cornwall increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Cornwall, the South West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Cornwall

The percentage of adults in Cornwall that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 12.0% to 13.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (50.4%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 54.4% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Cornwall increased from 23.9% to 28.4%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 12.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Cornwall with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.2% to 8.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in four (25.5%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 26.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in Cornwall without children increased from 64.9% to 65.6%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 8.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Cornwall residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.6% to 3.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, 1.6% of reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Cornwall remained close to 3.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Cornwall by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links